We have spent seventeen weeks covering the book of Nehemiah and have considered the many life-application lessons that these chapters provide. But today, for our eighteenth and final study, we’ll zoom out to get the bigger picture. There are five “mega-themes” from this book that we can benefit from. These great themes provide both encouragement and warning to us today.

I. Great Cities Can Fall

II. Ordinary People Can Help

III. Real Prayer Can Work

IV. Spiritual Revival Can Happen

V. Good Movements Can Falter

Talk with God: Meditate on Isaiah 6:8 this week and ask the Lord to give you His heart for your city and the people He’s placed in your life.

Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to pray for and support you as you seek revival in your walk with the Lord.

Talk with kids: How did God rescue His people through Samson?

No Christian ever plans on backsliding, that is, moving away from Christ. Yet it happens. The prophet Jeremiah even admitted, “Our backslidings are many” (Jeremiah 14:7). Sometimes, a city can be in shambles because the lives of its people are in shambles. Nehemiah left Jerusalem for a short time and returned to find the people had gone back to practicing their old ways. Let’s consider four mistakes they made and how to prevent them from happening to us.

I. Misplace Your Bible (vv. 1-3)

II. Misalign Your Companions (vv. 4-9)

III. Misarrange Your Priorities (vv. 10-22)

IV. Mismanage Your Family (vv. 23-24)

Talk with God: Prayerfully consider the people you turn to for encouragement and advice. Are you surrounding yourself with strong, healthy believers who will sharpen you (see Proverbs 27:17) and urge you to grow in your faith?

Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to hold you accountable to pray and spend time in the Word daily as you recommit to a habit or create a new one.

Talk with kids: How did Gideon test God’s words?